Ash Wednesday

February 17, 2021

Dear Road Church Friends. 

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40 day Lenten season which culminates in Easter. It is a period of humble self-reflection, and a quest for higher spiritual ground. I offer you these prayers and readings as bread for your own journey with Jesus.

O Lord of grace, inspire my heart to join with you in love and concern for the whole creation. Make me like salt and light among humanity. As the days lengthen may I spend longer in the light of your presence. Plant your Word in my heart. that it may produce the fruit of your Spirit in my life. As I confess my sin, help me to lay aside the things that weigh me down and separate me from your presence.

I confess that I have sinned by my own fault.

I have sinned in thought, word and deed, by what I have done, and what I have l left undone.

I have not loved you with my whole heart, and mind, and strength.

I have not forgiven others as I have been forgiven.

I have not loved my neighbors as I have loved myself.

I have been deaf to your call to serve, as Christ has served me.

I have not been true to the mind of Christ.

I have grieved the Holy Spirit of God.

Accept my repentance, Lord. Draw me nearer to yourself.

Psalm 103:8-14

“The Lord is merciful and loving, slow to become angry and full of constant love. He does not keep on rebuking; he is not angry for ever. He does not punish us as we deserve or repay us according to our sins and wrongs. As high as the sky is above the earth, so great is his love for those who honor him. As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our sins from us. As a father is kind to his children, so the Lord is kind to those who honor him. He knows what we are made of; he remembers that we are dust.”

THE SIN OF OMISSION 

Margaret E. Sangster

It isn’t the thing you do, It’s the thing you leave undone,

Which gives you a bit of heartache, At the setting of the sun.

The tender word forgotten, The letter you did not write,

The flowers you might have sent, Are your haunting ghosts at night.

The stone you might have lifted, Out of your brother’s way,

The bit of heartsome counsel, You were hurried too much to say.

The loving touch of the hand, The gentle and winsome tone,

That you had no time or thought for, With troubles enough of your own.

The little acts of kindness, So easily out of mind,

Those chances to be helpful, Which everyone may find.

No, it’s not the thing you do, It’s the thing you leave undone,

Which gives you the bit of heartache, At the setting of the sun.

Blessings to you all. 

Pastor Norm